Lady has Champion look

Feathard Lady stormed to the forefront of the Smurfit Champion Hurdle picture as she extended her unbeaten run to seven under a peach of a ride from Ruby Walsh in the Stan James Christmas Hurdle at Sandown.

The blue riband has been dominated over the last two seasons by Irish raiders and following this 12-length triumph over Self Defense, there are now five horses from the Emerald Isle in the top seven in the betting for the big one in March.